MCINTOSH LABS INTRODUCES NEW HEADPHONE AMP MODEL MHA 100

[21qz]

I'm jealous...

 

[21qz]

Hi All,

i have been doing some research on "All in One" units that can power hi-end headphones + bookshelf speakers, so here i am.
Space is my challenge here, but I didnt expect to run into a $4500 price tag. Could anyone recommend a combo with close or near quality of
the MHA-100 that does not take up much space and possibly lower price? I'll have this connected through my Imac via usb. Thanks in advance.

 

[IceClass]

So, basically, the Macintosh MHA100 has an okay DAC with an okay amp but some super cool blue VU meters?

 

[4N6]

  So, basically, the Macintosh MHA100 has an okay DAC with an okay amp but some supper cool blue VU meters?

Yes and no...the DAC section is very livable, but you can certainly do better with a dedicated external DAC.
 
I find the speaker amp to be very, very good with my ProAc's.
 
I find the headphone amp to be terrific with my LCD-XC's.
 
Bottom line for me...the amp section is great, but I'll continue to use the exaSound e22 DAC as it is simply one of the very best DAC's out there, especially for DSD.
 
And yes, the blue VU meters are super cool! 

 

[21qz]

Man .. That exaSound e22 DAC is nice and expensive. What is one step down from that?

 

[4N6]

Not to derail the thread too much, but the exaSound e20 DAC is their initial offering and is terrific in its own right. ( http://exasound.com/e20/Overview.aspx )

 

[snejk]

Man .. That exaSound e22 DAC is nice and expensive. What is one step down from that?

The comparisons of the internal DAC to external DACs that I have seen have most often been in the higher end, like with the exasound ($3500) or Mcintoshs own D100 ($2500). Which in my mind feels a bit unfair. I own the MHA100 which I am very happy with. I use my HE6 with it the most, and recently got a clone F5 turbo just to get a feel for how the MHA100 mesaure up. I prefer the MHA100.
 
The only external DAC that I have tried with the MHA100 is the DAC section of my Fostex HPA8. I don't remember the details but I pretty quickly realized that the internal DAC was better for me. This begs the question: how high in the DAC quality/price chain do you need to go to surpass the internal DAC?

 

[ShySugarDaddy]

So, basically, the Macintosh MHA100 has an okay DAC with an okay amp but some supper cool blue VU meters?

For me the amp side is not an "okey" amp but a "wow" almost perfect amp for the hd800.

Dac side is okey but still better than most, its just that the dac is not worth the price tag it comes with. Its a disspointment if youre going to factor the price per expectation ratio.

 

[4N6]

  The comparisons of the internal DAC to external DACs that I have seen have most often been in the higher end, like with the exasound ($3500) or Mcintoshs own D100 ($2500). Which in my mind feels a bit unfair... This begs the question: how high in the DAC quality/price chain do you need to go to surpass the internal DAC?

 
You are completely correct. This is an unfair comparison. The cost of the e22 DAC is almost 78% that of the MHA-100. It would be great to have a number of different DAC's available at different price points to see where the internal DAC stacks up.
 
It is nice to know that you could start (and perhaps end?) with the MHA-100 just as it is, then upgrade the DAC section as funds and new technology allow,  all-the-while knowing that the amp section will easily pass on any improvements one makes up the chain.
 
IMHO, the MHA-100 is a fabulous one box solution that has absolute top notch build quality. Like with most all other McIntosh equipment, the MHA-100 has the craftsmanship, high-end aesthetic, and sound quality truly befitting of the price tag.

 

[groovyd]

  Amps fault? or defective tweeter?

not sure but assuming the tweeter.  amp was on very low like half of normal listening volume and did not hear any high frequency high volume tones or anything.

 

[ShySugarDaddy]

 
You are completely correct. This is an unfair comparison. The cost of the e22 DAC is almost 78% that of the MHA-100. It would be great to have a number of different DAC's available at different price points to see where the internal DAC stacks up.
 
It is nice to know that you could start (and perhaps end?) with the MHA-100 just as it is, then upgrade the DAC section as funds and new technology allow,  all-the-while knowing that the amp section will easily pass on any improvements one makes up the chain.
 
IMHO, the MHA-100 is a fabulous one box solution that has absolute top notch build quality. Like with most all other McIntosh equipment, the MHA-100 has the craftsmanship, high-end aesthetic, and sound quality truly befitting of the price tag.

 


Good point. hmmm.
but still, i think the mha-100 could still have done better with that steep price.
considering that (for my experience) a wa7d/tp with upgraded tubes sounded better at a quarter of the price.
I think it was just a marketing move for macintosh, so that people would be forced to purchase a better DAC from them e.g. the D100.

 

[groovyd]

Hi All,

i have been doing some research on "All in One" units that can power hi-end headphones + bookshelf speakers, so here i am.
Space is my challenge here, but I didnt expect to run into a $4500 price tag. Could anyone recommend a combo with close or near quality of
the MHA-100 that does not take up much space and possibly lower price? I'll have this connected through my Imac via usb. Thanks in advance.

 
Headroom Ultra Desktop Amp...
 
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UWUEZG

 

[21qz]

 
Headroom Ultra Desktop Amp...
 
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UWUEZG

 



Do you own this DAC with the MHA100? if so, please share your experience.
Another member had mentioned:

Centrance dacmini px
Nad 3020

Which both look like great options, but I don’t know.

With further research I've come across a few portable DAC's, but are those as effective?

A couple are:

Centrance M8
IFI MICRO DSD

I guess the reason for using a portable DAC would be the convenience of unplugging it and taking it on the go.
Other options I have looked into are:

Nad 7050
Peachtree 125se or 220se
Marantz PM8005
OPPO HA 1

Any thoughts/experiences around these units?

 

[IceClass]

 (for my experience) a wa7d/tp with upgraded tubes sounded better at a quarter of the price.

 

 
See, this is the kind of statement that scares me. I'm hoping the MHA100 is more than some super nicely built casing and meters for the price.

 

[barid]

:eek:

See, this is the kind of statement that scares me. I'm hoping the MHA100 is more than some super nicely built casing and meters for the price.

If you like other mcintosh amps youll like this one. If you dont, you wont. The price tag is steep, but no more so than any of their other products command.